Vertically adjustable wheel supported concrete saw



E. A. ZUZELO Jan. 31, 1967 VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE WHEEL SUPPORTED CONCRETEv SAW 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 8, 1964 INVENTOR. 0WA/P0 ,4. ZUZEZO 7 6 F 11; ids/( Jan. 31, 1967 VERTICALLY Filed Sept. 8, 1964 E. A. ZUZELO 3,301,601

ADJUSTABLE WHEEL SUPPORTED CONCRETE SAW 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. EDWAAD A. ZUZl-ZO Jan. 31, 1967 E. A. zuzELo 3,301,601

VERTIGALLY ADJUSTABLE WHEEL SUPPORTED CONCRETE SAW Filed Sept. 8, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VENTOR. EDWARD 4. 2022-20 BY/7% Warp,

UnitsdSWePetsn This invention relates "to apparatus for sawing' or "other wiseworking a groove into' or in flooring 'or pavement such as may be made of 'concreteonother durable mate rial.

It is customary to groove expanses of flooring orpave I merit of-concrete or other durable material in" order to provide a relief spacefor lateral expansion and contraction, such as may occur upon variationin temperame and usually to fill theresulting groove with expansible or' flexible material to exclude dirt and moisture. The

grooving is usually accomplished by means. of a rotary saw blade, and a somewhat similar but non-cutting tool may be employed to aid infilling the resulting groove. j

Conventional apparatus that can do s-o'is difficult tosteer, especially along a curved groove such' as at" the center line of a road and usually is e'jher bulky and complex in design or flimsy andundependable. I i

A primary object of the present invention is. provision of a machine for working a groove inpavernentor the like that is compact, dependable, and easy to steer. I

Anotherobject is provision of such a machine with improved supporting of the rotary 'tool for working the groove.

A further object is improved 'and sirnplified supporting- I i of the machine itself on the pavement. V

Other objects of this invention, together with means and methods for attaining the various objects, will be' apparent from the following description and the accom pa'nyin'g diagrams of a preferred embodiment thereof.

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of amachine embodying the present invention, showing in solid lines a low position ofthe rotary tool, and indicating in broken lines ahigh position of 'the rotary 'tool, relative to the flooring or pavement on which the machine is resting.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan of the machine of the preceding view, taken at II -II therein; and

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation of the same machine, taken at IIIIIIin FIG. 1. j I

FIG. 4 is a side sectional elevation of the machine with the rotary 'tool at a low position, as shown in solid lines of FIG. 1, taken at IVIV in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is aside sectional elevation of the machine with the rotary tool at a high position, as indicated in broken lines in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a top plan of a rear portion of the same machine, taken at VIVI in FIG. 3. i

In general, the objects of the present invention are accomplished, in a machine for working a groove in a pavement or the like, by means of a frame having a base with handle means upstanding at one end and a pair of supporting wheels spaced apart along a common axis at the other end and pivot means oriented transversely of the frame intermediate the ends, a subframe pivotally carried on the pivot means and having at one end a rotary tool located between the pair of wheels on the frame and having at the opposite end supporting wheel means, and adjustable linkage interconnecting the frame and the subframe to control the angle of pivot be- I tween the frame and the subframe. The invention comprehends particularly such a machine wherein the rotary tool is located essentially midway between the pair of wheels on the frame, with the locus of the axis of rotation of the tool, as determined by pivoting of the subframe "ice with respect to the frame, intersecting the common axis of the pair of wheels on the frame. I As shown in the respective views, the machine has generally rectangular frame 11 defined by pair of side members 12, rear'transverse member 13, and intermediate transverse member 14 located nearer the frontend than the rear end. Pair of supporting wheels 15 are mounted v outside and at opposite frontcorners of theframe on individual stub axles having a common axis. The wheels are parallel to, and are located equidistant from, the longitudinal bi-sector of the frame. shaft 21 extends across the frame approximately midway between thefront and rear ends ther-eofin journals 22 afiixed to the opposite side members. Brackets 25 afiixed to the outside of the rear corners of the frame support upstanding handle members 26 retained in place by bolts "27 through the brackets and frame members. The handle members are joined by transverse spacer28 near their top ends, which terminate in grips 29 (one each). Handwheel 31 located between the handle grips and above the transverse spacer is retained rotatably in journal 32 located midway of-the transverse spacer, and screw 33 afiixed to the handwheel extends downward between the frame 41. Stop 37 on the sleeve abuts rear transverse I member 13 of the frame in the high position of the rotary tool, as shown in FIG. 5 (and in the alternate position in FIG. 1).

Subframe 41 is shorter and narrower than frame 11 and is defined by bed 42 and attached pair of side members 43, which are afiixed =by clamps 44 to transverse pivot shaft 21 journalled on the frame. Wheels 45 on individual stub axles are mounted at the rear corners of the subframe just inside the frame. Hub 47 for rotary tool 48, which has guard 49 about its top half or so. is affixed to one end of shaft 46 at the front edge of the subframe, which extends forward over intermediate transverse member 14 to between wheels 15 at the front of the frame. Shaft 46 is mounted rotatably in journal bearings 51 and has multiple-groove pulley 52 affixed on its opposite end. Belts 53 run about the pulley and about similar drive pulley 54 on motive shaft 55 driven by engine 57, shown'with fuel tank 56, carried on bed 42 of the subframe above transverse pivot shaft 21. Guide arm 61 is pivotally supported about a transverse axis on the front of guard 49 for the rotary tool and carries guide wheel 62 at its opposite end. When not in use the guide arm may be elevated to rest against the top of the guard, as shown in broken lines in FIG. 1, whereas when in use it is swung forward and down, as shown in solid lines in FIG. 1, to place the guide wheel on a line or (as in FIG. 1) in a groove (63) in the pavement (64).

As is readily apparent, the angle of pivot or tilt of subframe 41 relative to frame 11 (measurable with transverse pivot shaft 21 at the apex of the angle, for instance) is abjustably controlled by handwheel 31. Yoke 65 extends downward through an opening in transverse spacer 28 and has compression spring 67 held by clip 66 at the far end about the body portion below the spacer. One arm of the yoke hooks over the 'rim of the handwheel and between spokes thereof, while the other arm is available near one of the handle grips'29, conveniently at the righthand side. Lifting the yoke manually against the compression of the spring permits the handwheel to be ro- I tated manually to increase or decrease the insertion of screw 33 within sleeve 34, thereby varying the angle of pivot or tilt of the subframe relative to the frame and thereby raising or lowering the rotary tool. Of course,

Patented Jan. 31, 196.7

Transverse pivot through the common axis of the pair of wheels at the front I of the frame, the axis of the rotary tool coinciding with the wheel axis at a position of intermediate insertion. Such location of the tool essentially midway of the Wheels is extremely beneficial to the steering and tracking of the machine. The guide wheel can be followed about a sweeping curve with little or no difficulty, and curves of relatively small radius can be followed accurately. The machine is stable and dependable in operation and relatively maintenance free.

Although a preferred embodiment has been described and illustrated, modifications may be made therein, as by adding or subdividing parts or by altering their size, shape, or location, or by substitution of equivalents, while retaining all or some of the benefits and advantages and without involving a departure from the inventive concept embodied therein and defined by the following claims.

The claimed invention:

1. In a machine for working a groove in a pavement or the like, a frame having a base with handle means upstanding at one end and a pair of supporting wheels spaced apart along a common axis at the other end and pivot means oriented transversely of the frame intermediate the ends, a subframe pivotally carried on the pivot means and having at one end a rotary tool located between the pair of wheels on the frame and having at the opposite end supporting wheel means, and adjustable linkage interconnecting the frame and the subframe to control the angle of pivot between the frame and the subframe.

2. In a machine for working a groove in a pavement or the like, a frame having a base with handle means upstanding at one end and a pair of supporting wheels spaced apart along a common axis at the other end and pivot means oriented transversely of the frame intermediate the ends, a subframe pivotally carried on the pivot means and having at one end a rotary tool located between the pair of wheels on the frame and having at the opposite end supporting wheel means and having intermediate the ends motive means for the rotary tool, and adjustable linkage interconnecting the frame and the subframe to control the angle of pivot between the frame and the subframe.

3. In a machine for working a groove in a pavement or the like, a frame having a base with handle means upstanding atone end and a pair of supporting wheels spaced apart along a common axis at the other end and pivot means oriented transversely of the frame intermediate the ends, a subframe pivotally carried on the pivot means and having at one end a rotary tool located between the pair of wheels on the frame and having at the opposite end supporting wheel means, and adjustable linkage interconnecting the frame and the subframe to control the angle of pivot between the frame and the subframe and including an adjusting handwheel mounted on the upstanding portion of the frame and cooperating screw means attached to the handwheel and to the subframe, respectively.

4. In a machine for working a groove in a pavement or the like, a frame having a base with handle means upstanding at one end and a pair of supporting wheels spaced apart along a common axis at the other end and pivot means oriented transversely of the frame intermediate the ends, a subframe pivotally carried on the pivot means and having at one end a rotary tool located between the pair of wheels on the frame and having at the opposite end supporting wheel means, and adjustable linkage interconnecting the frame and the subframe to control the angle of pivot between the frame and the subframe and including a pair of handles spaced transversely from one another on the upstanding portion of the frame and an adjusting handwheel mounted therebetween.

5. In a machine for working a groove in a pavement or the like, a frame having a base with handle means upstanding at one end and a pair of supporting wheels spaced apart along a common axis at the other end and pivot means oriented transversely of the frame intermediate the ends, a subframe pivotally carried on the pivot means and having at one end a rotary tool having a guard about the upper portion thereof and being located essentially midway between the pair of wheels on the frame and having at the opposite end supporting wheel means, and adjustable linkage interconnecting the frame and the subframe to control the angle of pivot between the frame and the subframe.

6. In a machine for working a groove in a pavement or the like, a frame having a base with handle means upstanding at one end and a pair of supporting wheels spaced apart along a common axis at the other end and pivot means oriented transversely of the frame intermediate the ends, a subframe pivotally carried on the pivot means and having at one end a rotary tool located between the pair of wheels on the frame and having at the opposite end supporting wheel means, a guide arm pivoted in a plane of alignment with the tool and carried on the tool guard, and adjustable linkage interconnecting the frame and the subframe to control the angle of pivot between the frame and the subframe.

7. In a machine for working a groove in a pavement or the like, a frame having a base with handle means upstanding at one end and a pair of supporting wheels spaced apart along a common axis at the other end and pivot means oriented transversely of the frame intermediate the ends, a subframe pivotally carried on the pivot means and having at one end a rotary tool located essentially midway between the pair of wheels on the frame, with the locus of the axis of rotation of the tool, as determined by pivoting of the subframe With respect to the frame, intersecting the common axis of the pair of wheels on the frame, the subframe having at the opposite end supporting wheel means, and adjustable linkage interconnecting the frame and the subframe to control the angle of pivot between the frame and the subframe.

8. In a machine for working a groove in a pavement or the like, a frame having a generally rectangular base with a handle upstanding at each rear corner thereof and a supporting wheel at each front corner thereof and a transverse pivot shaft midway of the front and rear ends, a subframe pivotally carried on the shaft with a supporting wheel at each rear corner thereof and .a rotary tool blade on the front edge thereof swingable, upon pivoting of the subframe relative to the frame, with its axis of r0- t-ation moving a-long an are passing essentially midway of the supporting wheels on the front of the frame, and an adjust-able linkage interconnecting the frame and the subframe to control the angle of pivot between the frame and the subframe and including an adjusting handwheel mounted on the upstanding portion of the frame and cooperating screw means attached to the handwheel and to the subframe, respectively.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,468,336 4/1949 Lewis 299-39 2,673,725 3/1954 Coates 299-39 2,817,275 12/1957 Lenker 299-39 3,045,992 7/1962 Asbury 299-39 3,156,231 1/1964 Harding 299-39 ERNEST R. PURSER, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A MACHINE FOR WORKING A GROOVE IN A PAVEMENT OR THE LIKE, A FRAME HAVING A BASE WITH HANDLE MEANS UPSTANDING AT ONE END AND A PAIR OF SUPPORTING WHEELS SPACED APART ALONG A COMMON AXIS AT THE OTHER END AND PIVOT MEANS ORIENTED TRANSVERSELY OF THE FRAME INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS, A SUBFRAME PIVOTALLY CARRIED ON THE PIVOT MEANS AND HAVING AT ONE END A ROTARY TOOL LOCATED BETWEEN THE PAIR OF WHEELS ON THE FRAME AND HAVING AT THE OPPOSITE END SUPPORTING WHEEL MEANS, AND ADJUSTABLE LINKAGE INTERCONNECTING THE FRAME AND THE SUBFRAME TO CONTROL THE ANGLE OF PIVOT BETWEEN THE FRAME AND THE SUBFRAME. 